Combined harrow and planter.



No. 68I,944. Patented Sept. 3, 190|. J. H. ALEXANDER.

COMBINED HARRW AND PLANTER.

(Application tiled July 14, 1900.1 (No Mndel.) v2 Sheets-Sheet l.

By 3M vanto/a TN: nofws rusas co. novo-urna. msmumm, nv c Patented sept. 3, |901.

J. H. ALEXANDER.

COMBINED HARHW AND PLANTEB.

(Application led July 14, 1900.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED I STATES PATENT EEICE.

JESSE I-IENLEY ALEXANDER, OF LABELLE, MISSOURI.

COMBINED HARROW AND PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,944, dated September 3,1901.

Application filed July 14, 1900.

To all whom it may' con/cern:

Be it known that I, JEssE HENLEY ALEX- ANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Labelle, in the county of Lewis and State 'of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Combined Harrow and Planter, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a novel cultivator and planter, the object of the invention being to combine in 'a single farm implement a cultivating-barrow or groundmellowing device and a planting attachment designed to be employed at proper seasons for the distribution of clover or other grass seeds immediately in advance of the device or implement which 'is intended to mellow the ground andinsure the penetration of the seeds through the stubble and turf to the soil or loam.

It is Well understood by farmers that the rains and severe weather of the winter months wash the decayed Vegetation into the hollows, sluices,and drain-ditches,so that the meadow is deprived of the fertilizing properties of such vegetation, with the result that meadow lands become sod-bound and comparatively barren. The result of this condition of the land may be clearly noted in the spring,wl1en the young grass will appear iirst in the hollows and depressions,where the decayed vegetation has enriched the soil and Where the ground is in condition to be permeated by thewarm air.

Having these conditionsin mind,the obj ect of my invention is to provide a meadow harrow or cultivator intended to be used in any and all seasons for the purpose of mellowing grass-lands by working the vegetation into the soil and by loosening the latter to a depth of several inches for the purpose of facilitating a circulation of air through the surface of the loam, to the end that the productiveness of the land may be greatly increased.

A further object of the invention is to construct and relate the elements of the harrow in a manner to permit the use of the implement for the purpose of cultivating corn and the like.

To the accomplishment of the several objects stated the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the Serial No. 23,642. (No model.)

extended beyond the bearings 3 for the reception of movable carryingwheels 4, de-

signed to be employed for the conveyance of the implement from eld to field or over roads and to be removed when the implement is employed for the Working of ground. Upon the shaft 2, intermediate of the bearings 3, which drop from the side bars of the frame, are loosely mounted a number of harrowwheels 5, comprising hubs 6 and comparatively broad rims '7, retained upon the hubs by spokes 8. The rim 7 of each of the harrow-Wheels 5 is pierced by two circumferential series of apertures through which project diamond or other suitably shaped teeth 9, the Shanks of which are rigidly retained in the Wheel-rims by nuts 10.

The wheels 5, which are preferably though not necessarily six in number, are divided into two relatively adjustable series by a pair of spacing-collars 11 and 12, mounted upon the shaft 2 and each abutting against the'hub of the inner end wheel of a series of wheels retained against the spacing-collar by the adjustable thrust-collars 13 and 14. Each of the collars 11, 12, 13, and 14 is provided with a set or abutment screw 15, by means of which IOO the use of the implement for the cultivation of corn. It will also appear that each series of Wheels may be retained in fixed relation to the shaft by screwing up the thrust-screw 16, which serves to clamp the adjacent series of harrow-wheels against the spacing-collars 11 and 12, rigidly retained upon the shaft 2 at the opposite ends of the series. I wish it to be understood, however, that many expedients might be employed for effecting the adjustment of the wheel series and their retention in iixed relation to the shaft after the adjustment is effected, the mechanism whichI I have shown for this purpose being illus-l trated merely for the purpose of disclosing one embodiment of such means.

Immediately behind the barrow-wheel is located a rotary clearing device comprising ay pair defining a space through which the har-V row-teeth 9 of the adjacent wheel pass to be cleared. Any suitable means for retaining the clearing-blocks 19 adjustably upon the clearing-shaft 17 may be employed; but one embodiment of such means comprehends the set-screws 21, extending through the blocks and abutting against the shaft to retain said blocks in proper position to clear the adjacent barrow-wheels, notwithstanding the lateral adjustment of the latter to accommodate the implement to various conditions of use.

The device as thus far described constitutes a complete embodiment of my invention in its broadest aspect, since it comprehends a series of relatively adjustable barrow-wheels 'combined to form what is, in effect, a crushing or rolling cylinder having teeth for effectuallyl mellowing and aerating the ground; but inasmuch as it is desirable to equip the implement with planting or seed-sowing mechanism I mount a seedbox or hopper 22 upon the frame in advance of the barrow and fitted, as usual, with a perforated dropper-shaft 23, arranged to govern the distribution or dropping of the grass or other seeds from the box 22 through an elongated slot or feed-opening 24 formed in a feed-boX-supporting rail 25, bolted or otherwise secured upon the frame.

For the purpose of operating the clearer and planter from the shaft 2, which is rotated bythe traction of the barrow-wheels, I mount a comparatively large sprocket-wheel 26 upon the shaft-2 just beyond one of the bearings 3 and geared, as by a sprocket-chain 27, with somewhat smaller sprocket-wheels or pinions 28 and 29, keyed upon the adjacent ends of the clearer-shaft 17 and the dropper-shaft 23. The proper tension of the sprocket-shaft 27 may be and preferably is maintained by anV adjustable tension device 30, supporting the upper strand of the chain and carried by a stud-shaft 3l, extending through a vertical slot 32 in one end of a guard-frame 33 and retained in its adjusted positions by a nut 24. The guard-frame 33 comprehends a superstructure of the frame 1 and extends over the harrow. It also serves as a support for the drivers seat 34.

Any suitable arrangement of draft appliances may be tted to the implement as thus far describedas, for instance, by mounting a draft-tongue 35 at the front of the frame and retained by a clevis 36 and a keeper 37.

In operation the implement is drawn over the ground, and the stubble and decaying vegetation are packed down by the passage of the wheels and Worked into the ground by the penetration of the teeth 9. lThe teeth 9 thoroughly work and mellowthe ground,open ing it up for the inlowof Warm air, and are effectually cleared as they rise from the surface of the ground by passing vbetween the clearing-teeth of the revolving clearer. At the same time if it is desired to sow grass or other seed simultaneously with the working of the ground the seed boX is supplied and the Seeds are dropped in proper quantities in front of the advancingharrow, the teeth of which insure the deposit of the seed through vthe stubble and turf to the soil therebelow. VIf it is desired to cultivate corn or the like, the harrow-wheels are adj usted to form a series of wheels at opposite sides ot' an intermediate space, and the clearer-blocks are adjusted upon the clearer-shaft in order to maintain their proper cooperative proximity to the teeth of the' Wheels.

It will thus be observed that I have pro duceda simple and ingeniousfarm implement by means of which the various objects heretofore stated maybe accomplished; -butwhile the present embodiment of my'invention appears at this time to be preferable I desire to reserve the right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations both in form and arrangement as may fall properly within the spirit of the invention.

I am aware that it has been proposed to mount a series of clearing-teeth in operative proximity to a cylinder'having teeth disposed in such alternating arrangement that during one portion of the revolutionfof the cylinder the teeth thereof will pass through alternating spaces between the clearer-teeth, and in another position thereof the teeth mounted upon the cylinder will pass through the spaces previously lett clear. By this construction the spaces between thejpairs of teeth are not left constantly clear for the escape of such vegetation as may have been carried up above the clearing-teeth by the teeth of the cylinder. I do not` lay claim to this construction, but to that structure recited in the claims which provides for the constant clearance or absence of obstruction between the pairs of,

clearing-teeth, inasmuch as the spaces be- IOO IIO

. tween the series of separate pairs of teeth are not provided for the accommodationv of the teeth upon the cylinder or barrow-wheels.

What I claim is- I. A farm implement comprising a frame, a barrow-wheel provided with several circumL ferential series of teeth, and a clearing device having a series of separate pairs of clearing-teeth for each series of barrow-teeth, the spaces between the series of pairs of clearingteeth being opposed to the spaces between the series of barrow-teeth.

2. A farm implement comprising a frame, a barrow-wheel provided with several circumferential series of teeth, and a rotary clearing device having a series of separate pairs of clearing teeth for each series of harrowteeth, the spaces between the series of pairs of clearing-teeth being opposed to the spaces between the series of barrow-teeth.

3. A farm implement comprising a frame, a series of barrow-wheels provided with several circumferential series of teeth, and a series of clearing-blocks opposed to the harrowwheels and provided with series of separate pairs of clearing-teeth for the series of harrow-teeth, the spaces between the series of pairs of clearing-teeth being opposed to the spaces between the series of barrow-teeth.

4:. A farm implement comprising a frame, a series of coaxial adjustable harrow-wheels each provided with several circumferential series of teeth, and a series of coaxial, rotary clearing-blocks adjustable for the purpose of accommodating them to the adjusted positions of the barrow-wheels, each of said clearing-blocks being provided with series of separate pairs of clearing-teeth for the series of harrow teeth upon the adjacent harrowwheel, the Spaces between the series of pairs of clearing-teeth being opposed to the spaces between the series of barrow-teeth.

5. A farm implement comprising a frame, a series of relatively adjustable harrowwheels each provided with a series of harrowteeth, a cooperating series of independentlyadjustable clearing devices having series of separate pairs of clearing-teeth for the series of opposed harrow-teeth, the spaces between the series of pairs of clearing-teeth being disposed between the series of barrow-teeth, and means for simultaneously operating the several wheels and clearing devices.

6. In a farm implement, the combination with a frame and driving-shaft, of a plurality of barrow-wheels mounted upon the shaft and arranged in separate relatively adjustable series, securing means common to the several wheels of each series, a clearer-shaft, a plurality of independently-adj ustable clearing-blocks arranged for individual coperation with the harrow-wheels, said harrowwheels being provided with the barrow-teeth and said clearing-blocks being provided with series of separate pairs of clearing-teeth disposed for the reception of the barrow-teeth.

7. In a farm implement, the combination with a frame and shaft, of a plurality of harrow-wheels mounted upon the shaft in series, collars opposed to the Wheels at the opposite ends of each series, means for retaining said collars upon the shaft, and means carried by the collars for operatively connecting the sev eral wheels of each series to permit their simultaneous adjustment.

8. In a farm implement, the combination with a shaft, barrow-wheels mounted in series thereon7 collars adj ustably mounted upon the shaft and opposed to the opposite ends of each series, and a thrust-screw carried by the collar at one end of each series and bearing against the adjacent harrow-wheel for the purpose of clamping the several harrowwheels of each series for simultaneous actuation.

9. In a farm implement, the combination with a barrow-shaft, of a pluralityof harrowwheels mounted in series on said shaft, adj ustable collars confining the wheels of each series, a rotary clearing-shaft, a series of cylindrical clearing-blocks mounted upon said shaft, each of said blocks being opposed to the periphery of a barrow-wheel, means for fixing said blocks in their adjusted positions, harrow-teeth extending from the peripheries of the harroW-wheels, paired clearing-pins lextending from the peripheries of the clearing-blocks, and gearing intermediate of the barrow-shaft and clearer-shaft to effect the simultaneous rotation ofthe harrow and clearing device.

10. In a farm implement, the combination with a frame and drivin g-shaft, of a plurality of barrow-wheels mounted upon the shaftand arranged in separate relatively adjustable series, adjustable collars confining the several wheels of each series, a clearer-shaft, a plurality of independently-adjustable clearing-blocks mounted on the clearer-shaft and arranged for individual coperation with the barrow-wheels, said harroW-wheels being provided with harroW-teeth and said clearingblocks being provided with clearing-teeth disposed to clear the narrow-teeth and located out of contact with the ground.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JESSE HENLEY ALEXANDER.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. W. MULNIx, C. H. BRosIUs.

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